Accord Gives Hope: Guarani Kaiowa of Sucuri'y

Maracaju, MS, from CIMI-MS 19 August 1997

Friends,

Great news! We received the following note from CIMI-MS, who works closely
with the Guarani-Kaiowa in Mato Grosso do Sul. The community of Sucuriy has
been granted a part of their land in a provisional agreement accorded by a
judge in Campo Grande. With CIMI, we see the accord as a real victory, and
thank you all for lending your voice to the struggle. It sets a precedent
for the other Guarani Kaiowa communities facing similar circumstances, and
gives hope to all those who say Enough! we will stay on our land.

Let us hope and fight for more victories.

Amanaka'a Amazon Network

Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do SulAfter nine months of struggle,
eviction, return, and constant threats of judicial eviction, on August
8th, the Guarani Kaiowa community of Sucuri'y closed a provisional
agreement that permits it to stay on its lands until trial of the
issue in court.

In the agreement the Guarani Kaiowa will retain nearly 65 hectares,
part of the area recognized as indigenous land. Among these are two
hectares which are dammed for raising fish, as well as an ancient
burial ground, and conditions to start the process of internal
re-grouping.

At first glance, the agreement might not seem to be a good one for the
indigenous people, but in the circumstances, it seems to have been the
best alternative. The agreement is provisional, and like other
Guarani Kaiowa communities in similar situations, the community has
made it clear that they will not leave the land they consider theirs.
They have created a point of reference for the definitive return to
and total occupation of the area, already recognized by the Brazilian
government as immemorially indigenous.

At CIMI MS we see the accord as one more a victory in the Guarani
Kaiowa people's hard fight for better living conditions. With
their organization and manifested determination, with the support of
all those in solidarity with the cause, this community has dampened
the fury of those who took control of the land, and their allies: the
rancher, the mayor of Maracaju, MS, and the rancher's union of the
municipality. All wanted distance from the Guarani. They are now
obligated to accept them. The indigenous people are, for now, firmly
positioned in the middle of the ranches and near the city, which is
only 3 kilometers away.

More important still: the negotiations were conducted with the Guarani
themselves. No one spoke for them. They had to be admitted and heard
at a hearinga hearing that was presented on three occasions, in
the Federal Court of Campo Grande, with the federal judge of the
second civil jurisdiction presiding. Also on three occasions, the
federal judge went out to the area in conflict. It is true that,
right at the first, they had offered the community to return to the
district of Aroeira, where they had stayed until they reoccupied their
land. When faced with the community's negative response, they
offered them another part of the area, property of the city of
Maracaju. The community again rejected the offer. Finally, they had
to accept that the Guarani Kaiowa would stay where they are, in the
heart of their traditional territory.

Another important aspect of the signed accord is that the eviction
order against the community, in effect for nearly five months, is
suspended, and the community will no longer be bothered by that
threat. And so the accord certainly permits possibilities for a new
life and hope for the Guarani Kaiowa of Sucuri'y. The city
leaders of Maracaju, who from the first had been against the
community, will have to aid them in their subsistence.

Another result of the accord is that, if after expert judicial
examination determined in the indigenous area, the consequent decision
of the judge is ratified, thereby legally deeming the territory as
indigenous land, the Guarani Kaiowa will occupy the entire area under
the protection of justice.

Finally, we believe that with support through the next six months
while the community builds a new life, the people of Sucuriy will
follow their own path. With the village reunified after being forced
off their land for the past ten years, they will have the strength to
occupy the full extent of the small piece of land which is now theirs.

We would like to thank all those who supportedand continue to
support - the Guarani Kaiowa of Mato Grosso do Sul.

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